Get a world-class education with the solid Christian foundation you’re looking for at Liberty University. Here, you’ll gain the values, knowledge, and skills you’ll need for success in every aspect of life.

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Get your associate or bachelor’s degree here on the Liberty University campus. Choose from more than 200 undergraduate residential programs in a wide variety of fields. You can also tailor your degree and target your area of interest through our specialized minors and certificates.

Get a world-class education with the solid Christian foundation you’re looking for at Liberty University. Here, you’ll gain the values, knowledge, and skills you’ll need for success in every aspect of life.

Tickets & Merchandise

Get your associate or bachelor’s degree here on the Liberty University campus. Choose from more than 200 undergraduate residential programs in a wide variety of fields. You can also tailor your degree and target your area of interest through our specialized minors and certificates.

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Meet the Center4ME Staff

Melany A. PearlDirector

Melany A. Pearl, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, began her service at Liberty University in 1996 as office coordinator for the Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME). In 1998, she was promoted to her current position, director.

Pearl is an alumnus of Liberty where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business and Master of Arts in Human Relations. She has served the campus community outside of her responsibilities in the Center4ME in several volunteer capacities including; administrative advisor of national honor society Alpha Lambda Delta, sub-committee chair on the NCAA self-study, SACSCOC committee member, mentor with the Campus Pastors' Office, and most recently a Wellness Champion with the Live Healthy Liberty initiative.

In her personal life, Pearl enjoys competitive fitness and does CrossFit, Spartan Races and powerlifting competitions. International travel is also one of her passions and been to Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Israel, Palestine, France, Bermuda, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Samantha NewtonAdministrative AssistantFor Director Pearl

Samantha Newton was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA and is excited to join the Center4ME team as the Administrative Assistant. She has a passion for planning events and has planned over 100 weddings and other events and aspires to own a wedding business in the future. Currently she is working on completing her Bachelors in Business Administration and plans to use her degree to pursue her entrepreneurial goals.

Samantha is ambitious and seeks God first in everything and for the strength to pursue his will (Philippians 4:13). In her spare time she stays busy pursuing hobbies such as: DIY projects, decorating, gardening, and planning her next big road trip.

Kerensa DunfeeAssociate DirectorCultural Competency, Assessment

Kerensa Dunfee is our Associate Director of Cultural Competency and Assessment coming from the Washington DC area. Having grown up in the Midwest she moved several times having lived in seven states in total.

She spent six and a half years on staff at a multicultural church in DC as the Director of Communications & First Impressions as well as the Youth Ministry Director. As the oldest of five children, all of her siblings are adopted which fostered her passion for understanding diversity at an early age. She has lived in highly Hispanic area outside Chicago, Scandinavian Minnesota, the farm town mentality of Fargo, ND and the urban melting pot of the DC area.

Currently Kerensa lives in the Lynchburg area with her husband Chris and enjoys time off with friends and creative activities. Anything from cooking to cross-stitch to sewing or puzzles, they are good for her soul!

Her overarching desire and heart is for those who leave Liberty to be grounded in a clear understanding of cultures across the United States. Kerensa’s prayer is for those who walk through the doors of Center4ME would be able to use these learning experiences for the greater good of the Kingdom.

Jose HernandezAssociate DirectorLEAD Fellowship

Jose Hernandez is originally from a small town in Southern Texas. He has spent his life serving others in a variety of capacities. Jose graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelors of Religion and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and has a passion for minority and first-generation college students. He aspires to attain a secondary Masters in Psychology culminating with a Ph.D. in Education Psychology.

Jose continues to serve the local Spanish community as a leader in Thomas Road Baptist Church Spanish Campus: Nuevo Amanecer officially serving as the Director of the Connection Ministry (Guest Services and New Membership Classes) and unofficially serving wherever he needs to serve.

He began public speaking at the age of 12 with a heart for seeing people broken before the Lord. He has served as a worship leader, youth director (both local and regional), and as anything that is needed to further God’s kingdom.

Stephanie SmithAssociate DirectorLEAD Fellowship

Stephanie Smith is one of our Associate Directors for the LEAD Fellowship program. She is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico and currently resides in Lynchburg, Virginia.

In 2012, she graduated from Randolph College with her Bachelors in Political Science and Dance with a concentration in International Relations. Afterwards, she came to Liberty University and received her Masters in Public Policy. She is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree in order to better serve the students within the classroom setting. In the fall, her goal is to earn an EDD in Educational Leadership.

Stephanie enjoys serving in the children’s ministry at Blue Ridge Community Church and attending Bible studies. She also loves to travel, dance, hike, and the culinary arts. She has had the opportunity to travel across the United States as well as Costa Rica, Chile, and the Dominican Republic.

Stephanie’s education, knowledge, and cultural experiences will help her to carry out Center4ME’s mission of bringing unity within the diverse set of cultures on campus.

Allen Ancheril Associate DirectorCampus Relations

Allen Ancheril was born and raised in Danbury, CT. He moved to Virginia to attend Liberty University in 2006 and has stayed locally ever since. He earned his B.S in Graphic Design and his M.A in Management and Leadership. Allen was formerly a public relations student worker and a Graduate Assistant for the Center4ME from 2007-2011.

Allen grew up in an Asian-American family but was immersed in a diverse neighborhood and had early exposure to other cultures, primarily Hispanic and African American Cultures.

He is ecstatic to return to the Center4ME as the Associate Director for Campus relations. His favorite verse is 1st Corinthians 9:22 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (ESV). Allen’s desire is to be an asset to the Center4ME and its mission to encourage a commitment to the Christian life and to enhance sensitivity to the needs of others.

In his free time Allen is an avid CrossFit Athlete and marksman, builds computers and enjoys superhero comic books and movies. Allen also loves international travel and has been to the following Countries; India, England, Bosnia, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.

David ShinkleMarketing and Office Manager
Campus Relations

David Grayson Shinkle was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia. He is of German, Jewish and Native American decent. Having been born with a cleft lip and palate facial deformity and twenty-four subsequent corrective surgeries, David has had the precious opportunity to face many trials and overcome them with God's strength.

David is a Liberty University alumni, having received his Bachelor of Visual Communication Arts. He is the former Executive Chief of staff of TrueLife.org ministries and works as both a Marketing and Office Manager for the Center for Multicultural Enrichment.

“As Christians, we must take seriously the responsibility to communicate Christ in the language of the people who need receive Him. Imagery as communication is, perhaps, the most universal of languages; and we are a part of the most media saturated generation who has ever lived. In order to be all things to all men, we must be skilled in the art of visual messaging. I’ve come to work at the Center for Multicultural Enrichment to design graphics to that same end.”
- David Shinkle (2 Peter 1:1-12)

Bethany WilliamsGraduate Assistant
LEAD Fellowship

After attending public school all of my life, I was searching to go forward in my higher education with a Biblical perspective. I came across Liberty, and ever since sophomore year of high school, I had my heart set on coming to Liberty. God put everything into place to allow me to attend. Liberty University has an amazing atmosphere and mission. Every professor/ staff member I have encountered genuinely care about my life and what God is doing in it. The people and the common thread of faith in the work of Christ is what gets me excited about Liberty University. It has impacted my life in ways that I would not have imagined. My understanding of who God is and His love has deepened and grown. Liberty University has helped me to know what it means to serve and love others.

Bukky AdebayoGraduate Assistant
Cultural Competency

Bukky Adebayo was born in Nigeria to a Christian family. She grew up in the northern part of the country. Due to her interest in business and economic matters, she went for a B.Sc. degree in Economics after which she went for her MBA. After six years in the business and financial service sector, a near death experience brought her closer to God and she sought to learn more about Him in order to be equipped to teach others about Him. She is grateful that God led her to Liberty University and she is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree in Evangelism and Church Planting. She intends upon completion of her program, to take the gospel to areas in her home country where Christ is not known as well as be a missionary in North Africa. She also intends to use her degree together with her business background, to empower African women for Christ. Bukky is zealous for God and strives for an intimate and ever growing relationship with Him. She prays to live a life worthy of glorifying God while serving at the Center for Multicultural Enrichment and throughout her life time. Psalm 39:5-6 is dear to her heart.

Sophia JeanPierreTracking and Retention Coordinator
LEAD Fellowship

Sophia Jean-Pierre was born in Central Florida and lived there until she was thirteen, then moved with her family to Metro Atlanta. She comes from a diverse family with her parents being Haitian with roots from India, Africa, Cuba, France, and Italy.

In 2012, Sophia graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial Organization. After graduation, she briefly completed an internship with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Fl, then worked full time before being lead to come to Liberty University.

Sophia is currently obtaining her Masters in Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling. She hopes to one day gain her licensure as a professional counselor and open up her own consulting firm that integrates her knowledge of counseling and industrial organization.